Sonny Gray is the rookie with all eyes on him since he was recalled this month but it was another first-year player who provided Gray with the backing for his first major-league win.
Rule-5 first baseman Nate Freiman whacked a two-run double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the third helping the A's beat the Astros 5-0 and prevent a Houston sweep. Freiman finished with a career-high four hits and four RBIs while Gray the A's top pitching prospect worked eight scoreless innings. Gray lowered his ERA to 1.00 in four appearances including two starts.
"He threw the ball outstanding" catcher Derek Norris said. "He's very exciting to watch. I'm looking forward to catching him several hundred more times."
Gray was presented with the lineup card after the game and he also got a box of game-used balls including the one he used to get his final out a comebacker by Brett Wallace.
"It's kind of sinking in right now" Gray said looking around at the mass of reporters surrounding his...

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